The Movie: Long Form Narrative Improv Class at the SoCap – With Alex Hatz!

The Movie with Alex Hatz

Using a combination of the three-act Harold and classical story structure used in film and TV, this class teaches improvisers how to work as an ensemble to create a compelling long form narrative show. With the structure to guide them, improvisers will discover the freedom to create rich characters with real needs and objectives, while letting the story simply write itself. The improvisers will learn to draw from the richness of their own experiences, and how to let the structure take away the worry of figuring out where the story should be going, so they can simply be present and honest in the scene and do their best work. The first half of the course will focus on learning the structure, and the latter half will focus on putting it all together, culminating in at least a couple of performances.

Alex Hatz

Alex Hatz is an actor, improvisor, writer, director and filmmaker. As a founding member of the Canadian Comedy Award nominated improv troupe About an Hour, Alex is drawn to improv formats that take their time to craft a story. He has written and directed a number of web-series and films and has many scripts in various stages of “development”. His greatest directing achievement to date was playing the role of a director that kind of looked like Steven Spielberg in a commercial playing at a theatre near you.

The Movie with Alex Hatz
Time: Wednesdays 7:30–10:00 PM (8 classes)
Date: Beginning March 25
Teacher: Alex Hatz
Prerequisite – Permission of Workshop Director
Cost: $240 PLUS HST
Class is limited to 12 students.

Registration is now open. Register before March 16th and get 20% off! For a full list of classes see here. Email Ralph MacLeod at ralph@socap.ca to register.

Advanced Level Improv Classes at the SoCap – With James Gangl!

Why? Advanced Scenework with James Gangl

This eight week course focuses on answering one question: Why? Why did I just say that? Why did I just do that? Why must this scene be watched? As improvisers we aren’t able rewrite the scene later. We get one chance to make our scenes awesome and so everything that happens must have a purpose. By exploring “The Why” students will arrive at what their scenes are about and find the joy of playing in a scene underpinned with truth.

James Gangl

James Gangl is a comedian, writer, storyteller and arborist. James won the Ed Mirvish Award for Entrepreneurship and a Canadian Comedy Award for Best One Person Show for Sex, Religion & Other Hang-ups. James went on to perform the show as part of the United Solo Festival on Broadway in New York City.

James performed with The Second City theatricals cast aboard the Norwegian Dawn, is a member of The Bad Dog Theatre. James currently performs with the best improvisers in town as part of the troupe Bonspiel! James was also nominated for a Canadian Comedy Award as Best Male Improviser.

James won the Kari Award for Best Actor in a Commercial at the Bessies for Cheerios’ #howtodad and his recent TV credits include But I’m Chris Jericho! (Insight Productions), Space Riders (CTV) and Annedroids (Amazon, TVO ). James is a regular contributor to Definitely Not The Opera (CBC Radio) and is a StorySlam Champion of The Moth.

James is neat, tidy and if you need your hedges trimmed, contact him.

Why? Advanced Scenework with James Gangl
Time: Tuesdays 7:30–10:00 PM (8 classes)
Date: Beginning March 24
Teacher: James Gangl
Prerequisite – Permission of Workshop Director
Cost: $240 PLUS HST
Class is limited to 12 students.

Registration is now open. Register before March 16th and get 20% off! For a full list of classes see here. Email Ralph MacLeod at ralph@socap.ca to register.

Advanced Level Improv Classes at the SoCap – With Dave Pearce!

Already taken our Core 1 course? Check out this advanced class;

Core III – Stronger Choices – With Dave Pearce

Core III builds on the skills you have been learning and places an emphasis on the individual improviser.  We look at how we can make YOU better by emphasizing the idea of making choices, creating characters, existing in environments, the power of emotions and making things personal.    Students in this class can also continue performing, and honing your skills, in front of a live audience at the weekly SoCap student shows.

Dave Pearce

Dave Pearce has taught and performed improv across North America, in Europe, on the Atlantic Ocean, and the Aegean, Caribbean, Mediterranean and Black Seas. As a performer, he worked with The Second City @ Sea on the Norwegian Jewel, and Norwegian Gem. Other credits include Prenup Challenge, Metro Morning, George Stroumboulopolos Tonight and Street Cents as a writer, Undercover Brother as a film performer, and Slap Happy Improvisational Theatre Co., with whom he won three Canadian Comedy Awards for Pretty Funny Improv Troupe.

Core 3 – Stronger Choices with Dave Pearce
Time: Tuesdays 7:30–10:00 PM (8 classes)
Date: Beginning March 24
Teacher: Dave Pearce
Prerequisite – Completion of Core 1 or Permission of Workshop Director
Cost: $240 PLUS HST
Class is limited to 12 students.

Registration is now open. Register before March 16th and get 20% off! For a full list of classes see here. Email Ralph MacLeod at ralph@socap.ca to register.

Intermediate Level Improv Lessons at the SoCap – With Chris Earle!

If you have already taken our Core 1 class you can move on to the next level of improvisation technique;

Core 2 – Creating Two Person Scenes with Chris Earle

Core II picks up from Core I.  Using context (who, what, where), positivity and the awesome power of “Yes, and…” you’ll begin to create scenes with partners that are only limited by your imaginations.  We’ll also begin teaching some of the performance games used in the weekly SoCap student shows so you can start participating in those.

Chris Earle

Chris Earle is a veteran writer/performer/director in Toronto’s theatre and comedy scene and has directed five mainstage revues at The Second City, including the Canadian Comedy Award winner Something Wicked Awesome This Way Comes. His work as a playwright includes Democrats Abroad, Russell Hill, the Dora and Chalmers winning Radio :30, and adaptations of Cinderella, Peter Pan, and Robin Hood for Ross Petty Productions. As an actor, he’s worked at Tarragon Theatre, Theatre Columbus, Crow’s Theatre, Theatre Passe Muraille and the Blyth Festival.

Time: Sundays 6:00–9:00 PM (7 classes)
Date: Beginning March 22
Teacher: Chris Earle
Prerequisite – Completion of Core 1 or Permission of Workshop Director
Cost: $240 PLUS HST
Class is limited to 12 students.

Registration is now open. Register before March 16th and get 20% off! For a full list of classes see here. Email Ralph MacLeod at ralph@socap.ca to register.

Beginner Improv Lessons at the SoCap with Core 1: Find Your Joy

New to improv? Then this is the class for you. Find Your Joy is a no-experience-necessary beginner class for those of you who have just been bitten by the comedy bug. Let our pros take you by the hand and give you the foundation you need to become an improv master.

Core 1 – Find Your Joy
This class is the Introduction to the SoCap style of improv. We emphasize character and relationship over narrative, ‘being in the moment’ over trying to be clever, making choices that have personal stakes, making connections over making jokes, fun and play, simplicity and clarity. There are two different Find Your Joy classes available;

Core 1 – Find Your Joy! with Diana Frances

Diana Frances

Diana Frances is an award-winning improviser and comedy writer who has been nominated for 7 Canadian Comedy Awards for ‘Best Female Improviser.’ She is the Vice President of Rock Paper Scissors and was recently seen in ‘A Twisted Christmas Carol‘ at the Arts Club Theatre in Vancouver. Diana has improvised for our Canadian soldiers in Bosnia, Egypt, and Afghanistan. She has also toured with Second City Theatrics onboard Norwegian Cruise Lines and with Roman Danylo on Holland America. When in Vancouver, Diana is a guest performer with The Vancouver TheatreSports League and tours with her all female improv group, ‘Leave it to Cleavage.’

Time: Sundays 3:00–6:00 PM (7 classes)
Date: Beginning March 22
Teacher: Diana Frances
Prerequisite – None.
Cost: $240 PLUS HST
Class is limited to 12 students.

Core 1 – Find Your Joy! with Jim Annan

Jim Annan

Jim Annan is an actor, writer and improviser. An alumnus of The Second City Toronto, Jim wrote and performed in four revues including the Canadian Comedy Award winning, Facebook Of Revelations. He is one third of the Canadian Comedy Award winning sketch troupe Falcon Powder. Jim has appeared in various television and film projects including: Murdoch Mysteries, The Stanley Dynamic, Coconut Hero, Odd Squad, Rookie Blue, The Ron James Show, and Unlucky.

Time: Thursdays 7:30–10:00 PM (8 classes)
Date: Beginning March 26th
Teacher: Jim Annan
Prerequisite – None.
Cost: $240 PLUS HST
Class is limited to 12 students.

Registration is now open. Register before March 16th and get 20% off! For a full list of classes see here. Email Ralph MacLeod at ralph@socap.ca to register.